F1 Racing Simulation

Ubisoft · released 1997 · discussed in 6,810 posts, 1996-2008 · overall tone positive

Posts per month

Timeline

• 1997-08-29 Papyrus released a beta demo of SODA Off-Road Racing, and a beta demo of Ubisoft's F1 Racing Simulation that required 3dfx appeared on a French magazine CD. post post
• 1997-11-19 Ubisoft's F1 Racing Simulation went on sale in Germany and Europe. North American buyers had to order it directly, and US pre-orders shipped in December. post post post
• 1998-02-20 Ubisoft released F1 Racing Simulation patch 1.07, which added force feedback support. thread post
• 1998-03-30 F1 Racing Simulation went on general retail sale in the US. post post

Key threads

• CPR patch verdict turns into GP2 versus F1RS argument 1998-01-15 · 119 posts
  Asked whether the CART Precision Racing patch fixed the AI, several replied it did not and they had deleted the game. The thread turned into a long, heated argument between Greg Cisko, who said F1RS made GP2 obsolete, and Randy Magruder, John Wallace and Richard Walker, who preferred aspects of GP2's driving feel and menus. Later posts covered Microsoft's statements about further CPR support.
• Why GPL has no rain and how to simulate it 1999-02-25 · 91 posts
  A question about whether 1967 drivers raced in the rain led to a long debate about GPL's lack of wet weather. Critics also said it lacked small surface bumps, while defenders argued Papyrus left out features that could not meet the realism of its driving model. Posters discussed how grip, puddles and drying lines might be simulated and the processing power needed.
• Is GPL's sliding realistic, and can sims teach driving? 1998-04-10 · 74 posts
  Critics said the GPL demo felt like aquaplaning and that fast laps needed unrealistic sliding. Others, including Bruce Kennewell who raced in that era, said 1960s cars did drift and lacked grip. The debate widened into whether sims can teach real driving, and a quote from ex-F1 driver Bertrand Gachot calling F1RS harder than a real F1 car was cited.
• Comparing Grand Prix 2 and F1 Racing Simulation 1998-01-19 · 61 posts
  A fan asked how GP2 and F1 Racing Simulation compared. One poster rated GP2 better for physics, sound, menus and speed sensation, which F1RS fans disputed. Debate then focused on F1RS's inaccurate tracks such as Suzuka, Hungaroring and Montreal, with Bruce Kennewell arguing track accuracy did not matter and others disagreeing.
• Powerslides, understeer and tyre temperatures in F1RS 1998-01-28 · 55 posts
  A follow-up on F1RS's handling turned into whether modern F1 cars powerslide, with posters citing Schumacher and Alesi. The thread then discussed using tyre temperatures and camber for setup in F1RS and GP2, with Richard Walker quoting Carroll Smith that even temperatures are not always optimal. Later posts covered the 1998 F1 rule changes.
• F1RS AI and whether sim racers could match real drivers 1998-01-04 · 41 posts
  A player complained about first-corner crashes with the F1 Racing Simulation AI, but most defended the AI as racing like real people. The discussion turned to why sim drivers can beat real lap times: free restarts, unlimited setup time, no physical risk and no g-forces. Posters also noted Jacques Villeneuve's reported success on the sim and lacked race-save naming.
• F1RS track accuracy and circuit licensing debate 1998-01-27 · 33 posts
  Discussion of F1RS track accuracy led to disagreement over Monaco's width from people who had visited it. The thread then focused on licensing, with John Wallace explaining that Grand Prix Legends must license 1960s tracks individually. Bruce Kennewell argued a renamed lookalike track would be legal, which others disputed, citing The Pits' abandoned Daytona project.
• F1RS lap timing runs fast on faster PCs 1998-06-07 · 32 posts
  Mike Turner reported that F1 Racing Simulation's ghost mode ran faster than real time on his overclocked Pentium II with Voodoo2, and was first dismissed as a troll. He and Leo Landman then showed with stopwatch tests that the in-game clock sped up with frame rate, which made hotlap competitions unreliable. Suggestions to cap frame rates did not solve the comparison problem.
• F1 Racing Simulation or GP2: which is more realistic 1999-02-16 · 31 posts
  A poster asked whether F1 Racing Simulation or Grand Prix 2 was more realistic. Opinions split, with many preferring GP2's feel and its large library of add-on tracks, others backing F1RS or its Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2 update, and several noting that the F1RS demo was worse than the full game. Jacques Villeneuve's reported use of GP2 to learn Spa was also discussed.
• GP3 expectations and Grand Prix 2's lost F1 licence 1997-12-02 · 30 posts
  Posters speculated that Grand Prix 3 would be only a modest upgrade over GP2, and debated MicroProse's graphics approach. It was reported that MicroProse had lost the FIA licence so GP2 could no longer be sold under that name after the year end, with Ubisoft now holding it for F1 Racing Simulation. The thread also explained GP2's processor occupancy figure, noting that above 100% the simulation slows down rather than dropping frames.
• F1 Racing Simulation's poor US sales figures 1999-06-06 · 28 posts
  A Gamecenter feature listed F1 Racing Simulation as selling only 12,570 copies in the US, against roughly 350,000 worldwide, and EA's Superbike World Championship about 7,000. Posters blamed Ubi Soft's year-long US release delay and weak marketing, and the American preference for NASCAR. Discussion also covered the delayed US release of Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2.
• Early impressions of Ubisoft's F1 Racing Simulation 1997-11-27 · 25 posts
  UK buyers shared impressions of Ubisoft's F1 Racing Simulation, praising its graphics, tracks and smooth 3Dfx frame rate but finding the steering and driving model hard to get used to compared with GP2. Opinions differed on whether its sense of speed was better than GP2's. A long digression mocked the 3Dfx lens flare effect.
• Best introductory Formula One game for a newcomer 1999-07-16 · 24 posts
  A newcomer with a Logitech force feedback wheel asked for an F1 game that would help him learn. Suggestions included the Official Formula 1 Racing demo, Grand Prix 2 (with warnings about PCI sound card lockups), TOCA 2 and eventually GPL. Greg Cisko disliked the OF1R demo's handling, which led to a side debate about 'car on a stick' physics and F1RS's grass penalty.
• Choosing between Grand Prix 2 and F1 Racing Simulation 1997-11-29 · 21 posts
  A buyer with a P166 and 3Dfx card asked which Formula 1 sim to get. Most recommended Grand Prix 2 as the established, demanding sim, while others argued Ubisoft's new F1 Racing Simulation matched or beat it and had 3Dfx support. The thread drifted into how GP2's frame rate depends on CPU power more than the video card, and mocking of the poster's 1MB Trident card.
• Curing understeer in F1 Racing Simulation 1998-01-07 · 21 posts
  A new F1 Racing Simulation owner could not stop his car understeering. Replies covered standard fixes such as rear anti-roll stiffness, brake bias and trail braking, reducing steering lock, and setting the wheel as a steering device in Windows 95. Eric Cote posted a full Nürburgring race setup that others found transformed the car.
• CART Precision Racing vs Ubisoft F1 Racing Simulation demos 1997-11-04 · 21 posts
  Several users who tried both demos preferred Ubisoft's F1 Racing Simulation for its smooth 3Dfx frame rate, sense of speed and detail, while a few found its driving model and sounds weak. The F1 demo required a 3Dfx card and did not run on Cyrix or AMD K5 CPUs. The full game was due on 21 November with Direct3D support.
• F1 Racing Simulation patch 1.07 released 1998-02-20 · 20 posts
  Ubisoft released patch 1.07 for F1 Racing Simulation, adding basic force feedback. Some found the effects underwhelming, while a Voodoo Rush owner welcomed fixes to loading and replay sound. Others reported the patch made Windows painfully slow when switching away from the game.
• Eagle Woman's enthusiastic F1RS coverage and debate 1998-01-20 · 116 posts
  Alison announced an expanded F1 Racing Simulation section on her site, praising its realism. Randy Magruder and Mike said the sim felt flat, citing instant engine revs, sound, and Direct3D bugs, while Greg Cisko and others suggested 3Dfx owners got a better experience. Discussion covered controller sensitivity settings, brake dust visuals and running F1RS under Windows NT.
• F1RS or GP2: another sim war 1998-08-04 · 66 posts
  A prospective buyer asked whether F1 Racing Simulation or GP2 was better, starting another long sim war. One side called GP2 more realistic and F1RS arcade, the other called GP2 dated, lacking weather and 3D support, and both labels were treated as trolls. Moderate voices suggested buying both since GP2 was in the bargain bin and pointed to the upcoming GPL.
• MGPRS2 versus GP2 popularity argument 1999-05-07 · 65 posts
  A complaint that every F1 sim thread ends with claims of GP2's superiority started another long debate. David G Fisher cited F1RS's million-plus sales and website traffic as proof of popularity, while others dismissed hit counts and praised GP2's enduring playability, multi-player hot-seat mode and accessibility; most agreed GPL was in a class of its own.
• Frustration with repeated F1RS patches 1998-03-30 · 59 posts
  A poster attacked Ubisoft for issuing many F1 Racing Simulation patches, saying 1.08 slowed his P200. Others reported 1.08 improved frame rates and steering, and discussed the black sky bug and grass slowdown. David Fisher argued F1RS repeated POD's bugs and that CPR criticism stemmed from anti-Microsoft bias, which others disputed.
• Lack of good modern F1 sims: GP2 versus MGPRS2 1999-05-05 · 55 posts
  A poster complained that buyers wanting a modern F1 sim had little choice beyond the ageing GP2 and the 1967-era GPL. The thread became a long argument over whether Ubisoft's F1 Racing Simulation and Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2 or GP2 had better physics, with side debates on how much graphics matter and on Eidos's upcoming Official Formula 1.
• New F1RS fan sparks MGPRS2 versus GPL bickering 1998-12-10 · 50 posts
  A newcomer enthused about F1 Racing Simulation after getting it free with Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2. The thread became an argument between John Wallace, who called MGPRS2 a near-identical rip-off, and Ronald Stoehr and Greg Cisko, who said its physics were much improved, with David G Fisher accusing GPL fans of partisanship. It later drifted into Gran Turismo realism and car top-speed physics.
• F1RS engine sound debate 1998-03-13 · 41 posts
  A newcomer praised F1 Racing Simulation and asked for driving tips; replies recommended learning Monza first. The thread became a debate about the engine sound, with some calling it realistic and others weak, noting volume did not change with throttle. Replacement sound files and editing tips were shared.
• Claim that F1RS is awful, based on the demo 1998-01-27 · 40 posts
  A poster called F1 Racing Simulation awful compared with GP2, then admitted he had only played the demo. Fans told him the full game and setups were very different, while John Wallace argued demos should represent the product. Some agreed GP2 felt more like a real car.
• Players debate whether F1RS is still enjoyable 1998-07-13 · 39 posts
  A player said he could no longer enjoy F1 Racing Simulation despite its features and was moving to GPL. Greg Cisko defended F1RS as the best F1 sim and the exchanges became personal. Specific complaints covered AI that brakes too early in braking zones and sound that did not reflect the physics, while defenders found it the first sim that drove like a car at the limit.
• F1 Racing Simulation performance on different PCs 1998-01-03 · 38 posts
  A poster asked how F1 Racing Simulation ran after hearing it was unplayable on a P133 with 3Dfx. Owners reported smooth running on Pentium and PII systems with Voodoo cards but slowdowns in traffic on Cyrix chips. A critic who called the graphics, sound and physics poor was roundly rebutted, with many praising the AI, and tips were shared on Glide gamma settings and refresh rates.
• F1RS verdict sparks mock 'club' banter 1998-01-31 · 37 posts
  A poster gave a negative verdict on F1 Racing Simulation, citing slow menus, sound and handling, and received setup advice. The thread then turned into crude banter between Papadoc, Nosferatu and others over a self-styled club of obnoxious posters. Greg Cisko reported his F1RS race times.
• F1RS failing to start under Windows 98 and FAT32 1998-06-28 · 35 posts
  A user found F1 Racing Simulation stuck on a black screen after upgrading to Windows 98 and FAT32, and a Ubisoft technician reportedly said no more patches would come. Several others reported F1RS 1.09 running fine or even better under Win98, especially after a clean install. The thread drifted into whether Windows 98 was worth the upgrade.
• F1RS joystick support and wet-weather handling 1998-06-04 · 35 posts
  A GP2 owner asked whether F1RS worked well with a joystick and whether its cars really felt front-wheel drive. Replies said joysticks worked with limited adjustment, and that the understeer was a setup issue, though some found wet races unwinnable without aids. Online racer Neil Charlton said top F1RS league drivers could out-qualify the AI in the wet with no aids.
• New F1RS owner's performance and steering complaints 1998-07-13 · 34 posts
  A new F1 Racing Simulation owner with a Cyrix CPU and Matrox M3D card complained of unresponsive steering, poor frame rates and other problems. Replies said the game needed an Intel CPU and a 3dfx card, a race-controller setting and the DINPUT.DLL fix, and better setups than the default understeering one. He ordered a Pentium II and Voodoo2, and the thread criticised F1RS's menus and setup handling.
• F1 Racing Simulation lock-ups 1998-02-15 · 31 posts
  Several users reported F1 Racing Simulation locking up after a few laps. Some blamed the sim, citing POD's history, while others insisted it was system-specific. Fixes that worked included cooling an overheating 3Dfx card and leaving at least 50-100MB free disk space for the game.
• Is F1 Racing Simulation a real sim? Endless spins debated 1998-05-10 · 30 posts
  A GP2 fan asked whether F1 Racing Simulation was a real simulator. A critic said its endless power spins showed a weak physics model, and others replied that real F1 cars can do doughnuts and that the demo lacked setups. Most agreed the spin behaviour was a minor low-speed flaw in an otherwise excellent sim, and the 1.09 patch was said to reduce grass slowdown.
• ThrustMaster GP1 or V3 wheel for F1 sims 1998-01-23 · 27 posts
  A UK buyer asked whether to choose the ThrustMaster GP1 or the V3 wheel for GP2, TOCA and F1RS. Most recommended the GP1, sometimes with CH Pro Pedals, and advised cleaning pots with contact cleaner rather than replacing them. Posters also clarified that the Formula 1 wheel was the European version of the NASCAR Pro.
• F1RS disk space and US availability 1998-01-21 · 26 posts
  A poster asked how much disk space F1 Racing Simulation needs; a full 3Dfx install was about 160-197MB. Others said it was not yet in US stores but could be ordered from Ubisoft by phone. Later posts covered 3Dfx versus Direct3D versions, and the English demo's easy driving aids.
• Criticism of F1 Racing Simulation's tracks and feel 1998-01-02 · 26 posts
  A poster listed complaints about F1 Racing Simulation, including flat or inaccurate tracks, engine sound, grass handling and the menu system. Others called this exaggerated, while some agreed the game lacked a sense of speed. A side discussion noted Jacques Villeneuve had used GP2 to learn tracks such as Spa in 1996.
• Choosing a 3D card for F1RS 1998-02-24 · 26 posts
  A buyer asked whether a cheap Virge card would do for F1 Racing Simulation, and most said to get a 3Dfx Voodoo. Randy Magruder detailed differences between the Direct3D and Glide versions after patch 1.07. The thread covered accelerator sensitivity settings and Glide gamma at high refresh rates.
• Rumours that Geoff Crammond is working on GP3 1998-01-09 · 26 posts
  A German magazine reported Geoff Crammond was working on Grand Prix 3, and a poster predicted it would overshadow F1RS. Others mocked the optimism, predicting a late 1998 or 1999 release given GP2's delays and hoping for rain. Posters noted that F1 Racing Simulation already had variable weather.
• Monaco GP demo seen as merely F1RS version 1.1 1998-09-26 · 26 posts
  Marc Collins concluded after playing the English Monaco GP demo that it was essentially F1RS with fixes sold at full price. Iain Mackenzie and others said the demo was unrepresentative and pointed to a positive beta review, while others agreed the changes were patch-level. The thread degenerated into personal insults.
• Waiting for the US release of F1RS 1998-02-04 · 26 posts
  A US player asked when F1 Racing Simulation would reach stores. Others said the English version could already be ordered from Ubisoft and patched, and Marc Nelson reported that Ubi Soft had a US master with a March 16 release date. Posters discussed whether the US version would drop alcohol and tobacco sponsors.

Busiest threads

• Early Grand Prix Legends video and 1967 authenticity (32 posts about it)
• F1RS or GP2: another sim war (31 posts about it)
• CPR patch verdict turns into GP2 versus F1RS argument (28 posts about it)
• F1 Racing Simulation performance on different PCs (24 posts about it)
• New F1RS owner's performance and steering complaints (19 posts about it)
• Players debate whether F1RS is still enjoyable (18 posts about it)
• Criticism of F1 Racing Simulation's tracks and feel (17 posts about it)
• Claim that F1RS is awful, based on the demo (17 posts about it)
• Lack of good modern F1 sims: GP2 versus MGPRS2 (16 posts about it)
• MGPRS2 versus GP2 popularity argument (16 posts about it)
• F1RS engine sound debate (15 posts about it)
• Is F1 Racing Simulation a real sim? Endless spins debated (15 posts about it)
• Do F1RS owners deserve a discount on Monaco GP? (15 posts about it)
• F1 Racing Simulation lock-ups (14 posts about it)
• Are sims harder to drive than real race cars? (14 posts about it)

Sentiment by year

Each post that discussed the sim was rated from −2 (very negative) to +2 (very positive).

Who talked about it most

Greg Cisko · 277 ymenard · 100 John Wallace · 81 Ronald Stoehr · 75 Iain Mackenzie · 73 DPHI · 67 David G Fisher · 60 Michael E. Carver · 54 P Gagg · 50 Byron Forbes · 46 David Masten · 45 Bruce Kennewell · 44 Larry Lindstrom · 41 Paul Jone · 41 papa.. · 39 Marc Collins · 38 Matthias Buesi · 33 Richard Walker · 31 Nathan Wong · 27 Randy Magruder · 25

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